Lionel Richie actively 'reclaims' his song 'Hello'

For many, Adele's one-sided telephone conversation song Hello calls to mind Lionel Richie's one-sided telephone conversation song, Hello. Richie is aware of the tunes' similarities.

So when he was onstage performing at the 2nd Annual Diamond Ball in support of Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation in Los Angeles Thursday night, he had to make a nod to Adele's viral hit.

"There is a song I need to reclaim," he said, before playing the first notes of 'Hello' on the piano to cheers. 

Even Rihanna made a comment about the British songstress while introducing Richie to the audience.

"He wrote this song 'Hello' way before Adele was even born," she said.

In addition to singing Hello (which sounded as great as always), Richie powered through Running With the Night, Commodores songs Easy Like Sunday Morning and Brick House, and All Night Long.